Have you been struggling to update Windows 10, or even struggling to upgrade Windows 7 to Windows 10?
Have you been getting a blue or green screen of death (BSOD / GSOD) about 70% into the process?
Well I decided to do a bit of digging and found out that this process ( aksdf.sys ) belongs to a USB dongle driver. I can’t even remember the last time any software I used needed a security dongle, let alone use one now!
Note: Obviously, if you do use any software that may use the hasp sentinel driver described below, it may be worth checking with the software provider first to see if they have a patch etc. to help. You could also just re-install the driver after updating Windows.
UPDATE 06/06/20: A couple of the comments did mention X-rite software. This may be worth re-installing after you have successfully updated Windows. This software is normally used for monitor calibration or Fiery enabled printers and copiers.
I found a web page detailing how to uninstall this driver. I downloaded the tool and uploaded it to this website for ease.
Firstly, download the following file:../downloads/haspdinst_7.100.25990.1.zip
Then unzip the file within ( haspdinst.exe ) to your C: (You will need administrator rights to do so).
Open an administrative command prompt (click start, type cmd, right-click Command Prompt and click ‘Run as Administrator’.)
Make sure you are at the root of C drive (you should see C: at the bottom of the command prompt window). If you aren’t and see some other letter, type C: and press enter.
Then copy and paste the following into the Command Prompt window and press return:
haspdinst.exe -kp -r -fr -v -purge
The Sentinel install window will appear for a short time and should come back successful. You can then try updating Windows again which should happily fly past the 70% mark and complete.
Please leave a comment if this has helped you!
36 Responses
OMG I can’t thank you enough for this. I spent literally all day yesterday trying. I tried everything(thought I did) including cleaning the registry, uninstalling programmes, you name it. Each time, the windows update would last for around 25-30mins before spitting the above error. After using your method of clearing that driver, the update sped through and was done in about 10mins or less. AMAZING!!! And thanks again!!
Hi Jerry, thanks so much for the comment, good to know it is actually helping people out there! I was in the boot loop and lost a lot of hair in the process! Thanks again, Dave.
Echoing what Jerry said Dave. Sorted my problem out as well. Thanks for researching and publishing the solution to this problem. Saved my from losing another day of my life. THanks again !!.
That’s great news Eddie! I didn’t know if it was going to be a one off as I do like to mess about with my PC but glad it is acutally helping people. You’re more than welcome!
These exact instructions just worked for the Windows 10, version 2004 update.
Hi Kevin. Glad it helped you and thanks for the comment!
Thank you so much for the instructions and the uninstaller. I was a little reluctant to download the files from the sentinel web site and it wasnt real clear. This also addressed my issues with upgrading and getting the green screen of death. In my case I received the aksdf.sys file when I installed xrite monitor calibrator software. Unistalling xrite didnt uninstall these drivers until i ran the haspdint.exe.
Thank you
Hi Gan, that rings true for my setup then as I use the Xrite Monitor Calibrator software also. I will try running it and see if it still functions. Thanks for the comment and glad you got it working!
Starting to despair of ever getting my Dll T3600 to upgrade Win 7 pro to Win 10 pro, and then googled aksdf.sys and found your amazing website. Downloaded the tool followed your instructions and here I am up and running in Windows 10 Pro. Thank you so much!!!!!
Amazing news! It lives again!
Just the answer I needed after the whole process aborted with a mystery message. Thanks for posting this
Yes – it would be more helpful if the error message was more specific wouldn’t it!?
So happy to have finally upgraded to Windows 10 from Windows 7 with your help. I have spent days investigating 0xC1900101 – 0x40021 error message without any indication that Aksdf.sys was the problem. I was thinking the old pc would need to be scrapped as the windows update was stuck on get Window 10 but now I have saved some money and some landfill so thank you very much.
Hi Simon, so glad these steps cured your problem. Interesting to read about Windows 7 also being affected. Can you remember if it was a blue screen of death or green? Cheers, Dave.
Definately blue – green screen of death is something to look forward to in the future!
Lol – The reason I asked is I thought this was just an Insider Preview error. The crash screen is green in this case, whereas it is blue for general release. I’ll update the site to cover all instances of updating Windows 10! Thanks for the update.
I followed your instructions and getting following error massage
at Sentinel run-time environment window “Failed to unpack drivers”.
So Please tell me what to do to solve the BSOD problem for upgrade to new windows ver-2004 ?
Did you definitley run the file as administrator?
Thanks!
Although I’m not comfortable downloading .exes from the web so I eventually found it on the official site:
https://supportportal.thalesgroup.com/csm?sys_kb_id=979a4e21db92e78cfe0aff3dbf9619c6&id=kb_article_view&sysparm_rank=3&sysparm_tsqueryId=be58a1bcdb2d5090c1cf51f4f396194c&sysparm_article=KB0018319
Hi Neil, thanks for the alternate link. I just literally downloaded it and uploaded to this site in case it is removed at some point but understand completely.
can’t thank you enough….I was one step away from formatmatting the drive and doing a fresh install…
Hi Barry, you’re more than welcome. Glad you’ve not had to format your PC and waste hours of your life. Your comment made me smile!
Great! Thank You!
I tried several things about an hour. But this works for me!
Hi Alexander, thanks for stopping by and commenting. It really makes my day seeing people helped by my findings.
Thank you very much! This did the trick to allow 10 2004 upgrade!
Cheers Alex and thanks so much for the comment. I’m glad you took the time to comment as it makes this post feel worthwhile!
Lifesaver – was driving me nuts! Thanks for posting 🙂
Wilco, thanks for your comment and support. It means a lot!
Ditto! 🙂
Thank you very much!
You’re welcome Mark! Glad it fixed your issue, it was driving me nuts too!
wow solved my age old problem on one PC, many thanks. Every major update to Windows
repeatedly had this issue. Fixed!
Hey Gary, that’s great news! So happy this fix is still helping people! What version of Windows 10 were you trying to update from?
Dave that’s great. Your program has helped me out of trouble and now I have been able to upgrade to Windows 10 version 2004. Been puzzling for days. Thanks again.
Hello Dave,
does it work on a Windows 2010 Pro version 20H2 ?
(actually Blue SOD)
Thanks
Emmanuel
If you get the error aksdf.sys error then yes it will. My green screen of death is just because I am using the latest Insider Preview version. Let me know how it goes Emmanuel!
Seams to be stabilized, after 8h00 no crash.
Very difficult to know when it happens because the access to this file seems to be not regular.
Thank you very much and if it not fixed I’ll come back to you.
Patch works well on a Windows 2010 Pro version 20H2 (French version)